Tablet storage device

• US 9,030,828 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Lindblad, Shaun C., Funk, Joe, Tischer, William D., Purrington, Matthew D., Segar, Peter, Richardson, Diane L., Prince, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/650,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.4, 361/679.41, 361/679.42, 361/679.43, 361/679.44, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 361/679.3, 361/679.56, 312/221.1, 312/221.2, 312/221.3, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3
• US Class Current: 361/727
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/043 adjustable, foldable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A tablet storage device includes a frame having a plurality of slots, at least one of which is adapted to hold a tablet. A docking station can be disposed in at least one slot. In some cases the docking station is configured to align a tablet as the tablet is positioned in the slot such that a corresponding port in the tablet aligns with, and connects to, a connector. The frame also has a surface to attach the device to a vertical surface and can have a door that can be moved from an open to a closed position and adapted to retain at least one tablet held within at least one slot when the door is closed. A power supply system and/or a network connection system can be provided with the tablet storage device.

Claims

1. A tablet storage device for mounting to a vertical surface, the device comprising:

a frame having a surface to attach to the vertical surface, the frame having a plurality of slots, at least one of the plurality of slots adapted to hold a tablet such that the frame is adapted to hold at least one tablet, the at least one of the plurality of slots having a surface that is at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 35 degrees relative to the vertical surface;

at least one door attached to the frame, the at least one door having an open position and a closed position, the at least one door having a door surface that is parallel to the vertical surface when in the closed position;

a power supply system for charging the at least one tablet; and

a network connection system for providing a network connection to the at least one tablet.

2. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of slots are arranged in a plurality of rows and at least two columns; and

the frame has at least one door that can be moved from an open position to a closed position, the at least one door being adapted to retain each tablet held within a row of slots when the door is in the closed position.

3. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein a docking station is disposed in at least one slot, the docking station having a connector, the docking station configured to align a tablet as the tablet is positioned in the slot such that a corresponding port in the tablet aligns with, and connects to, the connector.

4. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein:

a first docking station is disposed in at least one slot, the first docking station having a connector, the first docking station configured to align a first tablet as the first tablet is positioned in the slot such that a corresponding port in the first tablet aligns with and connects to the connector; and

wherein the at least one slot is further adapted such that the first docking station can be replaced by a second docking station, the second docking station adapted for use with a second tablet not compatible with the first docking station.

5. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the vertical surface is a wall.

6. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the vertical surface is a column.

7. The tablet storage device of claim 1, wherein the vertical surface is a post.

8. A tablet storage device for mounting to a vertical surface, the device comprising:

a frame having a surface to attach to the vertical surface, the frame having a plurality of slots,

at least one of the plurality of slots adapted to hold a tablet such that the frame is adapted to hold at least one tablet, the at least one of the plurality of slots having a surface that is at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 35 degrees relative to the vertical surface, the frame having at least one door that can be moved from an open position to a closed position,

the at least one door adapted to retain at least one tablet within at least one of the plurality of slots when the door is in the closed position,

the at least one door further adapted to permit a portion of the at least one tablet to be visible to a user when the at least one door is in the closed position;

at least one door attached to the frame, the at least one door having an open position and a closed position, the at least one door having a door surface that is parallel to the vertical surface when in the closed position;

a power supply system for charging at least one tablet; and

a network connection system for providing a network connection to at least one tablet.

9. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the network connection system includes a wireless transmitter.

10. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein:

at least one slot is further adapted to hold a small electronic device; and

the at least one door is further adapted to retain the small electronic device within the at least one slot when the door is in the closed position.

11. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the surface of the frame is a planar surface that is adapted to be mounted to an upright planar surface.

12. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein at least one slot has a notched portion to facilitate positioning and removal of at least one tablet.

13. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the frame has a front compartment positioned under the plurality of slots, the front compartment permitting access to components of the network connection system and components of the power supply system.

14. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the at least one door is adapted to be locked.

15. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the vertical surface is a wall.

16. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the vertical surface is a column.

17. The tablet storage device of claim 8, wherein the vertical surface is a post.